Pulse analyzing method and system



J. l. HELLER- l PULSE ANALYZING METHOD AND SYSTEM Aug. 26, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Jan. 3l, 1946 Aug. 26, 1952 J.,|. HELLER 2,608,652

PULSE ANALYZING M ETHOD AND SYSTEM Filed Jan. 31, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 IT E o4 Temas/e l\\ l v .-4 l C//ec u/T Y 7 52 50 40 /a ELsME/vr Fea-Q. Mop,

IN V EN TOR.

BY 7556/65 ffe//ef Patented Aug. 26, 1952 2,608,652 v PULSE ANALrzINc METHOD AND SYSTEM Joseph. I. Heller, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor, by' mesne assignments, to Marcel Wallace, doing business as Panoramic Laboratories, East Port Chester, Conn.

Application January 31, 1946, Serial No, v611145,512

This invention relates to wave analyzing sys:- tems, and particularly to a panoramic system for detecting and analyzing pulses.

One object of this invention is to provide `a panoramic system for searching through a'wide band frequency spectrum to locate any pulsemodulated signals within that band, and then automatically to show the frequency of each pulse-modulated signal, and to indicate the duration and intensity of each pulse.

modulated signals, the signals are picked up on a receiver tuned to the wave frequency of the pulse carrier. The signals are amplified in the usual manner, either by means of atuned radio frequency or superheterodyne amplifier, and the pulses are then detected and amplified by video amplifiers. After detection and amplification ofV the pulses they are analyzed by suitabledevicesto determine their duration in microseconds and their repetition rates in cycles per second. The frequency of the pulse carriers is determined by tuning of the receiver.

lossof time in the search through the frequencyv spectrum for pulse signals.

A primary object of this invention his to pro-v vide a system whereby the repetition rates of pulses occurring as pulsed carriers in a Wide band ofthe frequency spectrum are directlyindicated together with their respective carrier frequencies.

Another object of this invention is to provide a system whereby the respective frequencies of pulsed carriers in a wide band spectrum are directly indicated, so 'that rapid adjustment of the equipment may be made to study the repetition rate of any selected one of the pulse signals.

`This invention utilizes certain methods o'f panoramic reception and indication offsignals throughout and Within a selected Vrange of the frequency spectrum. For a further understanding of the nature of the panoramic methods and their application to this invention, reference is made to Patent No. 2,279,151, issued April 7,

1942, to Marcel Wallace, for Panoramic Radio Receiving System; Patent No. 2,312,203, issued February 23, 1943, to Marcel Wallace for Radio (Cl. Z50-29) .lo Normally, in the use and reception of pulse 2. Beacon and Panoramic Reception SystemjP-atent No. 2,378,604', issuedJune 19, 1945, to Marcel Wallace for Radio Altimeter 'and Panoramic Reception System; Patent No. 2,381,940, issued August 14, 1945, to Marcel Wallace andv HoraceV G. Miller for Method and Apparatus for Simul` taneous Aural and Panoramic Radio Reception.

As explained in the above identified patents, a superheterodyne receiver of either a single-conversion or double-conversion receiving system may be used. The entire frequency band thatl is received 'and passed by the 'input circuit of the receiving system is scanned and all of the modulating signals imposed upon the high frequency carriers within that band are detected in succession, and supplied in succession to a cathoderay` oscillograph, and there indicated as signal pulses, spaced along the baseline trace on the display surface of the oscillograph in such manner as to indicate the frequency spacing of the carrier Waves on which the pulses are modulated.

As the frequency band that is received bythe receiver input circuit and indicated-on the oscillograph display surfacemay be relatively Wide, each pulse is relatively narrow at its'base Where it joins the baseline trace. Such indicated Width of a pulse at its base will be, in fact, a function of the scanning speed rather than a function of the actual duration of the pulse, as is explained in some detail in Patent 2,381,940, particularly with respect to Fig. 4 of that patent.

The present invention, instead of merely indicating the `pulse at its normal location along the frequency scale and as a deviation of the baseline trace, segregates each modulating pulse, and, in eifect, rotates it physically through an angle of so that the effective baseline of each pulse can be enlarged and extended to permit its extent or duration to be measured along the full length dimension ofthe vertical scale that is available on the display screen of the oscillograph. i

Another object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a system wherein a measurement of pulse duration may be indicated on the screen of an oscillograph at the location on a frequency scale corresponding to the frequency of the carrier on which the pulse is imposed.

The manner in Which the system operates may be appreciated upon reference to the accompany" ing drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic Vblock diagram of this system, illustrating the various functions which enter into the operation of the system inits entirety;v

Figure 2 is a schematic view of a cathode ray tube display surface showing how pulse signals were shown on a frequency baseline in the prior art, represented by the patents referred to above;

Figure 3 is a schematic front view of the display surface of a cathode ray tube, in accordance with the present system, showing a frequency band in which two pulse signals occur;

Figure 4 is a block diagram of a system similar to the system of Figure 1, but modified to permit measurement and indication of pulse repetition time;

Figures 5 and 1 are graphs of two saw-tooth voltages of different illustrative rates of repetition;

Figures 6 and 8 are schematic views of the appearance of the display surface of the oscilloscope for the rates of Figures 5 and 1, respectively;

Figure 9 is a view of the display surface, as established by a different circuit, to show only the top values of the voltages `of Figures 6 Aand 8.y

In a' preferred embodiment of the invention, and fo'r purposes of example only, a'double conversioniheterodyne system is illustrated as the type of receiver utilized.

As shown in Figure 1, the equipment of the receiving circuit includes an antenna ',I I, a signal input circuit I2, a local oscillatorY I3, and a converter ormixer I4 for combining the frequencies transmitted bythe input circuit I2 and the frequency generated by the local oscillator I3, to develop a first intermediate frequency that is fed to an I. F. amplifier I5. The amplified I. F. is then supplied to a second converter I6 which is alsosupplied with a sweep frequency from an oscillator I1 whose frequency is controlled -by a frequency-modulating element I8, which in .turn is controlled by the sawtooth voltage from as shown in `one or` more of the patents above referred to.

If the output of detector 22 were now applied to one pair of deflection plates 23 of an oscilloscope 24, thev other deflection plates of which were energized by the saw-tooth voltage from generator I9, pulses would be displayed as typical inverted V-shaped deflections 25 and 26 rising from the baseline at the zones corresponding to the frequencies of the carriers on which `the pulses occur. as schematically indicated, for

example, in Figure 2. The durations of the pulses would be as indicated at a, and b, and it would be diicult, if not impossible, to determine the pulse durations with any degree of accuracy because of the small dimensions involved.

The principle ofthe present invention, therefore, is to utilize the output voltage of the detector 22 in such manner as to provide a better indication of pulse duration'. For that purpose, the output voltage of detector 22 is used to' initiate operation of an auxiliary trigger circuit 21, rand to drive a clipping amplifier 32 to supply a'p'ulse ofconstant 'amplitude to the intensity grid of 'the cathode ray tube.

The auxiliary trigger circuit 21 produces a sawtooth voltage which is applied to the vertical deflection plates of the oscilloscope. The time characteristics of the trigger circuit 21 are preferably made such that a pulse applied to the trigger circuit will immediately, and without delay, cause a sawtooth voltage to be generated. The amplitude of the sawtooth voltage is such as to enable Vutilization of the total screen area available in the vertical direction, while the slope of the sawtooth is made such as to provide sufficient time for the longest pulse width to be recorded. In other words, if the maximum pulse width to be measured is microseconds, then 100 microseconds is ordinarily made the time for one complete cycle of sawtooth, and that time period is set up as the maximum reading on .a vertical scale, against which the duration of the pulses will be measured. Once an operation of trigger 21 is'initiated, the trigger will generate a saw-tooth voltage of maximum amplitude. independently of the duration or intensity Vof the initiating pulse. voltage of trigger l21 is therefore sufficient. to establish a deflection, of the trace equal tothe full length of the vertical scale, indicated in Figure 3, for example, as 100 microseconds, tov

provide suiicient time for the longest pulse width to be recorded.l In other words, if the maximum.

pulse Width to be measured is` 100 microseconds, the time for one complete cycle of the sawtooth operation of trigger 21 is madelonggenough to permit the cathode ray spot to be on the screen for at least 100 microseconds. i

In order to show the trace deflection on Ythe display surface of the cathode ray tube 24l for only the duration of the pulse, the detected pulse from detector 22 is used to control thevintensity` of the cathode ray beam. Therefore, the'gridV or control electrode 24a of the cathode ray tube 24 is normally biased negatively, andthat'negative bias is changed to a positive value forthe duration of the pulse. The negative .bias'is impressed on the grid from a suitable circuit, shown here schematically, for simple illustration, as a potentiometer 28 energized from a voltage source 29. The shift from the negative bias Vto a positive bias is effected by applying a Iixed'positive potential to the grid from theclipping amplifier 32. For simplicity, only the outputcircuit-of: the clipping amplifier 32 is shown, with the-usuah ,condenser 33 and load resistor 34. The amplier constants should be arranged so conductor.

35 from resistor 34 will supplyl a positive voltage to the control lgrid and thereby intensify the beam effect. The clipping amplier 32 feeds a clipped pulse signal of constant amplitude `to the control grid 24a of the cathode ray tube, Vso,

that all pulse signal traces indicated on the screen surface of the cathode ray tube are of detected pulse exists, and the trace is therefore'- bright for only the duration of the pulse, Ainr spite of the fact that 4the saw-tooth voltage from trigger circuit 2'1 on the vertical deecting plate 23` continues for the full time constant of thattrigger circuit 21. 1

`The appearance 'of the 'display surface of-'the' The saw-,tooth` cathode: ray-"tube 24.1 ascontrolledin accordance with theipresent'. invention. is indicated schematis-` c'ally'in Figure 3,. for the` two pulses 2.5 and. 2%

of' Figure V2'. In' Figure: 3.' these. sameA two pulses: 25 and 2.6 are `identified. as'. 25araand 26a; The' baseline duration a ofzpulse; 25 ofi Iiigureufzrisinow shownzas 1thel height ainFigureS: Similarly; the

duration: b of 4pulsefTZ off: Figure 2; isishownz as;

height bfin Figure 3. By useof the? entire :height of the vertical sale 35 of Figure 3 for measuring pulse duration, a.4 visual; indication is availablewhosei'dimensiomis twelve'V to fteen times the dimension.. available' ini the; display' of.' .F.igfure:- 2.: The: calibrated. frequency' scale M along; the a baseline of Figure" 31 is: relative,v and the;I cen-- trai? or rzero.: linei calibration. corresponds? tok the:

frequency'toi which the: input. 'radio-frequency circuit: is:l tuned. by" the"l local 'oscillator' I3"` The:4 calibrations. on.- scale. 3 |i,1 either: positiveffcrr negativaxrepresent the. frequency devia-tion. from the.- tuningrindicationfof the` mainRFireceiver in Figure; v1.f 1 The". vertical durationY calibrations 35' at the side. oft ther viewing.: frame-Figure 3, may` bevdirectly calibrated. in microseconds and the height of' the', signal indication corresponding: to"

duration may thenrbe. imm-ediatelytreadl oith'e' ycalibrated scale.

"A typical display on the:V display surfacefofi a cathode ray tube', as tit. appcarswhen the appa-- ratusaherein.describedfisiused; is show-n .inl Figurer 3;.with the two .pulse signalsri't5av and 26a; If the receiver `is tuned, forexample; to 100'` megacycles;

thatV frequencyl would; correspond tothe zero point onthe base line in. Figure 3; andthe fre-- quencyof thecarrier which-is `modulated by pulse` 25a would' .be .100..megacyclesminus the 4i mega-A cycles shown, or 96V megacyclesV and' the Vpulseduration would be measured againstvthe:verticall scale` 35. vatthe left, .as sixty microseconds; Similarly;A pulse` 26m. represents aY pulse-modulated signall at: av radiofrequency of "1'0'6j megacycl'eswith "azpulse duration of'thirty microseconds. in eachV case' ftheidi'spl'ayed width ofi `each `pulse sig--u nal` is proportional to itsl field` strength; landin` the indications as 'show-n in Figure 3 1, pulsesignal 2 ia is :shown as vhavin'gg'reater` 'eld strength-'than signal. 25a;

Othersignalsr may be displayed simultaneously on the. screenof' thev cathode ray tube, and the displayslwould be similarl to thosedescribed'. In5 f each case thera'dio` frequency ofv thesig-nal`V car-- rier would beindicated by the horizontal locationof'th'e display-on the base scal'e 3l, and the duration of each signal would be measured against vertical scale 353 while the relative pulse signal strength would be indicated by= ther width of' the' corresponding to. zero frequency deviation. The oscillator: I1 isi then 'adjusted to zero: sweep and.` the sawtoothigenerator I9 `is varied in frequency until only one pulseis seen on .the screen; This will occur when theasawtooth. generatori tr'hass ai frequency that. is equal. toV the',repetition` rate; off thefsignal; The repetition rate or frequencyfcan. thenbe read directly from the calibrationofllthe: frequency-control, or adjusting. elementofathe. saw-toothg-g'enerator I9. And in theisame manner. any; other. signal appearing: on .the *screen under-.rulli frequency modulation conditions canA bey brought. to` the center of the screen andi its: pulse'repetition rate quickly measured. vSince they display` surface 'shows allor the pulsegsignals that may requireinvestigation, considerable timel issaved in thetuningofthereceiver tothe particular'pulsethat istobe measured; p

For a secondv method of. pulsel repetition time.'V measurement, thecircuit of Fig. 4 is used, withf the'v 'switches in the circuits to .thei cathode: fray tube 24` thrownxt'o their upper. positions.` `fllrigger;` circuits 21 and.5ll are.` thus connected l-tcrtheiverw ticalkand the horizontal deflection plates respectey tively of the cathode ray `tube' 24; The-hips flop amplifier 35 .isfnot connected for' thisoperaff. tion.. Thel output'voltage of the'\detec'tor..22.5isV nowfed through aV switch 40 tothe triggerfcircuit 50,. the. output of which isthen` fed'throughafswitch 5| at its upper position tothehorizon taliplatel53; on the' cathode ray tube 24'., Inv-this.: position 5.2' of the switch 5|, theamplifier..20;` fed' by thesawtooth generator I9, is disconnect-i edffrom` the cathc'defray'tube 24; The actionjoi` thecircuit .is then as' follows: a` voltagepulseI from detector 22. starts the triggerv 50 andinitiat'es` 'ai sawtooth: voltage wave l which. moves", thev spot# horizontally acrossthe screen. Theratef of the sweep'fandl its' duration` time is determined'en-Y- tirely vby the timing constants' ofV thertriggercirs cuitfll andr` not by the voltage pulsev signalsromi. the detector 22, since that voltage-:pulse signal merely: initiates the sweep .of the:` trigger circuit 50. If.` the next-succeeding'vpulse emerging?'frcrrr` detectorA 22. appears. before the hori'zonta'lfsweep` dueto triggercircuit 50 has completed its-.:cyc1`e;. a second pulse will appear on the base' line-#establisliediby the triggercircuit 50 and thespacing on` the'screen ofv this second pulse fromztl're'first'` pulse will be indicative of` thev repetition time; since the rst pulse that initiated the sweepwvsfillf also still be present as a'vertical` deflection inresponse to the action` of thev trigger circuit2l.

Both the first and second methods just; de.- scribed require thatl the'signal being .measured for pulse repetition ratebe moved. to the'lcenter: ofthe screen andthat' thefsweepsof. theioscillat'or Hand its modulator' I8 be reduced to zero.

'ih'ethird` method may also be explainedby.4 reference .lto Figure' 4e.k For this method",l corr` siderl all .the switches to the cathoderay'tubecircuitsA to 4be in their. lower positions: Trigger' circuits 21 and 50 are disconnected, andthenip op: amplifier 35 is substituted', and amplierZll is restored. The circuit is otherwise similarxtothatshownfin Figurel. l w

The first pulsey of, a` train emerging from rief tector 22 energizes the nip-nop circu'it1'35-an'd causes it to move to flipconditionyat. which. a Vsawtooth1 output voltage is generated'and'i'impressed onthe top vertical electrodeibf the1cath.-y ode ray tube; 2.4;.'resultingin the initiation1 of -a: vertical movement or deiiection of the cathode .ray beam spot. Intensication of. the trace takesA `place at-the same timel due to energizatiorrof; the cathode ray `tube grid by the' intensifier amplier 32. The next succeeding pulse from.L detector 22 flops the circuit 35 bacle to its original.. condition, therebyv effectively stopping the: sawtooth;4 voltage en the'vertical deflection pla"te'fanr;`

annessa 'terminating thel intensif-led' v vertical l line on the Yvalue At that 'instant'otima designated as P2.7when that lsecond pulsearrives; the' voltalv'alue 4 equalI to" 'E-I lThesa'wtooth voltage -llily of Figure '5 :will -m'ovefthe :beam spot in avertical' linetrace Mffas'shown-in' Figure 6to azfheight' corresponding: Lto Eel `:in Figure f 5. 'i The f -m'o-ve# ment of the "spot". on' thef display-surface vof the oscilloscope is thu's' controlled by voltage -lil-I, which infturn" is controlled. bythe intervalbe' tween pl'1l'ses.x"I'heA voltage such as E-I,4 which the 'sawtooth voltage is permitted .to attain,- isav masureof'theitime interval Tf ofthe flip-flop circuit4 condition; ".Th'e "repetition rate, or fre' quency, is equal t'o reciprocalof the time interval Tf1 lThev vertical scale-'V42 `which meas'uresthel height of movementofthespot as in path 4 l, mayv thus be'calibrated'directly' to show the 'voltage' E-'I- reached on the saWtooth voltage'cu'rve '40;' or' dlrectlyvtoshow thetime interval T froml Pei-l to`P2;.'or inversely to show the repetition ratev iirfcycles per: second" as .a reciprocal of the .time interval Tinvolved.:`

In' Figure 6i the scale is thus'I shownrinversely; calibrated'in'cycles per second,'increasing down ward, according to smaller tim'eintervals betweenv successive 'puls'es, for the carrier frequency being" investigated." 'f L. .fg f.

lI'n .Figure 7 a graph's'imilarto `that in l-igure 5 is .shown,'but in w1f1i `:li"the':time intervals'bee" tween successive pulses are shorter, as' from P-ll t P 22..f .1.. v y I 'The' movexnentof'v the cathoderay beamfspo't: is correspondingly'shorteras shown by .the verti-f` cal trace 43 lin Figure 8. The shorter'trace 43 willfindicate `ahigher'repetition rate or 'larger number of cycles on thescale 42. Tlieconstarits of the 'iiip-ilop circuit 35 are: arranged toallow'the sawtooth voltage along the line '40, 'if' not interrupted, to build upfatime 'of duration equal to b'ut not greater lthanthe great-- est ztime-interval-.to be expected from vthe pulses? tobe investigated; so the nip-flop 'circuitv will then automaticallyV restore itself to" initial condi#Y tionsqiThe'appearance of' the signals under these conditions will be: 'similar to'- that 'shown in Figure 6, representing pulse .durati6n'time,-except that the vertical lcalibrationV may now read cycles Derfse'c'ond. l' -111 The/signals. and' 43 in'Figure 6`and Figure 8 wouldfeaclishowonly'. one line on lthe screen ifA thewswee'p'time of the' lsaw-tooth .generator 'I9 were short enough to .permit only o'ne'ilip-'ilop .Thesweep time is ordinarilyfsufliciently long, however," to permit several flip-nop operations during one vsweep interval, so several vertical lines are'fshown,y depending upon relationship between the repetition rate of the A'observed signals and alternative method of 'presentingl the in'' formation given-'is' in the arrangement'ffofr'lth'e 75'- circuiti-whichxdoesnct use the sa'wto'oth voltagedirectly,` bu'ty which uses' itinfconjunctionwith' aipeaking" circuit which will bring. the spot-to a certain vertical'po'sition depending upon the value ofzfthe nip-flop sawtooth at the instant of ilopfbackto'original position.

'Such 1a system will resu'lt in the bart of=light1 as an indication'asi shown lin Fig. 19, insteadlof as verticalflines, as shown in FiguresG and 8;` II'Iclaimz' 'v i' Y Y1l. VIn combination, a tunable wave energy re--z4 ceiver for Wave energy pulseshaving each awa've frequency, apulse duration, and havirigpredeten.

mined pulse separation times, .a cathode raytube indicator having means forgenerating a ibeamf'ofl electrons'and a display 'surface responsive to iin-f pactl by said beamof electrons to lprovide a v is'i'. ble indication, means for periodically tuning-saidreceiver over alband of-frequencies.includingeach wave frequency of vsaid pulses, meansgfor. deflecting'said beam :in a rst direction insynchronism ceivedpulse for initiating deflection ofsaid beam# ina second direction, means for-increasing'said;

. deflection progressively. asa function of t'imegand tion of time inresponse `tocert'ain of said pulses;

and means vfor deilectingfsaid'beam'in said secondL direction as. a2 ifunction of time separations A`be--' tweensuccessive pulses,.and" meansfor alter-rf natively 1' disabling (1 saidftwo last, .mentioned means and` (2) said rst :mentioned means for' deileoting andI said meansresponsive-.to''a'flrst` 13.1111 combination, atunable radio receiver forY radio1 frequency pulses o1 various I durations; 'a-I cathoderay tube indicator rhaving means for gen.- eratng 1a cathode ray b,eam,means forLperiodi-fcally varying thetuning of said lreceiver and'v forV synchronously -deilecting` said cathode' ray beam.l in a first direction, to provide a beam position cor# v responding-with each value of tuning of saidfre"' ceiver, means comprising a trigger circuit respon-r sive to eachof [said radio Afrequency.pulses-.for

deflecting said beam ina. secondfdirection fora time corresponding with--a maximumdurationofsaid each of said radio frequency pulses,` and"- means for intensifying saidv cathode ray-beam" onlyvduring said each of said radio frequency,`

i 4. @In a' pulse,v duration analyzer, a; source-v or' pulse signaLa cathode ray tube indicator 'having' means for generating a cathode ray, beam, iirstl mean-s comprising a sawtooth generator for 'deilecting said.- cathodel -ray Y beam -latl a relativelyy constant rate in response to each-of saidfpulses,

and further means for increasing tlie'intensity ,ofv said beam during deflection thereof by .saidmeans for vdeflectingV `and in response to and only; during:

continuation of said each` of said. pulse Signals.

5. In combination, a tunablewave energy*A regl-' ceiver for wave energy-'pulses of-,random durations and at random vfrequency of wave, energy' within a predetermined spectrum of frequencies,

a cathode ray tube indicator. having means for; v generating a cathode ray beam,means for 4peri-.A odically-varying the tuning of said receiveroverr said spectrummeans` for deflecting said-cathode ray beam 'inv a first direction in synchronismfwitli' said tuning, '.to. provide a* beam deflectionin 'sai'd first.' directionl for-'Seachv valuefo'f tuning'.l of "said" receiver, and means comprising a voltage wave generator responsive to each wave energy pulse by said receiver for providing a visible indication in a second direction having a length determined by duration of said pulse.

6. In combination, a tunable Wave energy receiver for wave energy pulses at random durations and at random frequency of wave energy within a predetermined spectrum of frequencies, a cathode ray tube indicator having means for generating a cathode ray beam, means for periodically varying the tuning or said receiver over said spectrum, means for deflecting said cathode ray beam in a iirst direction in synchronism with said tuning, and means responsive to initiation of each of said pulses for initiating a constantly increasing deiiection of said beam in a second direction and for a duration greater than the duration of any of said pulses, and means for intensifying said beam for the duration of each of said pulses only.

7. The combination in accordance with claim 5 wherein is further provided a trigger circuit responsive to initiation of each of said pulses for initiating a constantly increasing deflection of said beam in a second direction and responsive to termination of each of said pulses for terminating said deflection.

JOSEPH I. HELLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordin the file of this patent:

Y UNITED STATES PATENTS Number OTHER REFERENCES Art by Moulic, Electronic Industries, July 1944, pages 86-88. 

